Application for admissions

Specialised Studies Diploma in Medicine

Medical students over X-Ray screen

For students with a Master’s degree in medicine, the University of Luxembourg offers specialisation courses in Medicine. Learn how to apply for them.

The University of Luxembourg offers 3 advanced (DES) medical studies programmes in the Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine in the fields of General Medicine, Neurology and Medical Oncology.Specialised medical studies in General Medicine can lead either to a Master’s in General Medicine (Level 7) or to the Diplôme d’Etudes Spécialisées en Médecine Générale (Level 8 of the Luxembourg Qualifications Framework as defined in Article 69 of the Law of 28 October 2016 on the recognition of professional qualifications).Specialised medical studies in Neurology / Medical Oncology lead to a Diplôme d’Etudes spécialisées en Neurologie / Oncologie Médicale (Level 8 of the Luxembourg Qualifications Framework as defined in Article 69 of the Law of 28 October 2016 on the recognition of professional qualifications). 

    Ranking selection

    Enrolment of any candidate is dependent on his/her personal situation. Criteria may differ depending on an applicant’s nationality, the origin of his/her diploma and his/her residence.

    By default, all eligible applicants are subject to a ranking selection encompassing:

    • A written test on the applicant’s knowledge of French and German (level B2 minimum) (for the DES General Medicine programme)
    • A written test on general medical knowledge (for the General Medicine programme)
    • An oral interview on communication and cross-disciplinary skills as well as knowledge of French and German at a minimum level of B2 (for the Neurology/Medical Oncology programmes)

    You are advised to carefully read the detailed information below corresponding to your profile.

    European applicants

    Any person who is a national of a Member State of the European Union  (EU), of the European Economic Area (EEA) or of Switzerland is considered a European candidate.

    • Diploma

      The applicant must have a basic medical education credential obtained in a Member State of the European Union (Switzerland, European Economic Area) referred to in Annex 5.1.1. of Directive 2005/36/EC or an equivalent diploma (cf. diploma obtained before the reference date set in Annex 5.1.1. or a “too recent” diploma not yet included in Annex 5.1.1.; In both cases, a certificate of conformity must be provided and established by the competent authority).

      Pursuant to Art. 32 of the University Law, access to the studies leading to the advanced degree of DES in Medicine is open to applicants who meet the requirements of Article 1, paragraph 1, letters a), b), d) and e) of the amended law of 29 April 1983 on practising the professions of physician, dental physician and veterinary physician. For more information, please also see Section 10 of the 2020 Law on Specialisation.

      All diplomas and/or transcripts must be translated by a sworn translator when issued in a language other than French, German or English.

    • European candidate with a basic medical training diploma (1st  and 2nd cycle successfully completed)

      If you are a European candidate with a diploma of basic medical training (1st and 2nd cycle successfully completed) issued by a higher education institution located in another Member State of the European Union, in a Member State of the European Economic Area or in the Swiss Confederation, your diploma is automatically recognized if it is listed in Annex 5.1.1. of Directive 2005/36/EC.

      Even if you have not yet received your diploma (or pass certificate) by the application deadline for your chosen degree programme, you may still submit your online application. In all cases, you must do so by the deadline set by the degree programme.
      Applicants who have not yet successfully completed their 1st and 2nd cycle of medical studies at the time of application may be deemed eligible by the Education Committee, provided they provide the missing documentation by 30 November of the year of enrolment. They will not be allowed to begin internships until this formal criterion has been fulfilled.

      If your application is selected, you will receive a conditional admission letter.
      Once you have received your diploma and transcript, you can upload these documents via your admission portal to complete your application. A definitive admission letter will be sent to you along with the invoice for the enrolment fee to finalise enrolment.

    • European candidate with a university degree issued outside the European Union, the European Economic Area or Switzerland.

      The applicant must have a basic medical education credential obtained in a third country that is recognised under the provisions of the Law of 28 October 2016 on the recognition of professional qualifications, more specifically meeting the criteria set out in Article 24 of this law.

      Even if you have not yet received your diploma (or pass certificate) and/or it has not yet been recorded in the register of formal higher education qualifications by the application deadline for your chosen degree programme, you may still submit your application online In all cases, you must do so by the deadline set by the degree programme.
      Applicants who have not yet successfully completed their 1st and 2nd cycle of medical studies at the time of application may be deemed eligible by the Education Committee, provided they provide the missing documentation by 30 November of the year of enrolment. They will not be allowed to begin internships until this formal criterion has been fulfilled.

      If your application is selected, you will receive a conditional admission letter.
      Once you have received your diploma (or certificate of completion) and it has been recorded in the register of formal higher education qualifications, you can upload these documents via your admission portal to complete your application. A definitive admission letter will be sent to you along with the invoice for the enrolment fee to finalise enrolment.

    Proof is now required of proficiency in the programme’s languages of instruction (French and German), attesting to a B2 level (in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages – CEFR).

    Proof of language proficiency must be demonstrated in one of the following ways:

    1. Secondary and/or university certificate/diploma where the language of instruction corresponds to one of the languages of the chosen UL degree programme. In this case, no language certificate is required.
    2. Certificate of an internationally recognised B2 test not older than three years, such as TOEFL, TOEIC or IELTS for English, DELF or DALF for French and GOETHE Zertifikat or TestDaF for German, in the language(s) of instruction of the degree programme.
    3. Any other document proving B2 proficiency in the languages of instruction.

    t is possible to submit a request for recognition of prior learning (VAE) to have ECTS recognised.

    Recognition (VAE) is based on:

    • education and/or at least 3 years of full-time equivalent work experience in the same field as the desired degree programme.

    More specifically, recognition will be based on clinical internships performed and validated by accredited internship supervisors.

    Recognition allows the student to be partially exempted from taking certain courses in the degree programme.

    All requests for validation of prior learning and experience must be submitted via the dedicated form.

    Learn more about the procedure

    Please identify the deadline of your desired Specialised Studies Diploma programme on its webpages.

    Third country national applicants

    Any person with non-EU, non-EEA and non-Swiss nationality is considered a third-country national.

    • Diploma

      The applicant must have a basic medical education credential obtained in a Member State of the European Union (Switzerland, European Economic Area) referred to in Annex 5.1.1. of Directive 2005/36/EC or an equivalent diploma (cf. diploma obtained before the reference date set in Annex 5.1.1. or a “too recent” diploma not yet included in Annex 5.1.1.; In both cases, a certificate of conformity must be provided and established by the competent authority); or a basic medical education credential obtained in a third country that is recognised under the provisions of the Law of 28 October 2016 on the recognition of professional qualifications, more specifically meeting the criteria set out in Article 24 of this law.

      Pursuant to Art. 32 of the University Law, access to studies leading to a DES degree is open to applicants who meet the requirements of Article 1, paragraph 1, letters a), b), d) and e) of the amended law of 29 April 1983 on practising the professions of physician, dental physician and veterinary physician. For more information, please also see Section 10 of the 2020 Law on Specialisation.

      All diplomas and/or transcripts must be translated by a sworn translator when issued in a language other than French, German or English.

    • Diploma of basic medical training (1st and 2nd cycle successfully completed),
      and with a residence permit for Luxembourg

      If you are a third-country applicant with a diploma of basic medical training (1st and 2nd cycle successfully completed) corresponding to at least 180 ECTS credits under the Bologna process and issued by a higher education institution located in another Member State of the European Union or the European Economic Area or in Switzerland, your degree is automatically recognised.

      Even if you have not yet received your diploma (or pass certificate) by the application deadline for your chosen degree programme, you may still submit your online application. In all cases, you must do so by the deadline set by the degree programme.
      Applicants who have not completed their 2nd  cycle  of medical studies at the time of application may be deemed eligible by the Education Committee, provided they provide the missing documentation by 30 November of the year of enrolment. They will not be allowed to begin internships until this formal criterion has been fulfilled.

      If your application is selected, you will receive a conditional admission letter.
      Once you have received your diploma and transcript, you can upload these documents via your admission portal to complete your application. A definitive admission letter will be sent to you along with the invoice for the enrolment fee to finalise enrolment.

      As you have a residence permit in Luxembourg, the application periods are similar to those for European applicants.

    • Diploma of basic medical training (1st and 2nd cycle successfully completed),
      but without a residence permit for Luxembourg

      You must already have your university degree when you submit your application.

      If you are admitted, you must

      • study full-time, pursuant to the law of 29 August 2008 on the free movement of persons and immigration (third-country students are not allowed to study part-time)
      • reside on Luxembourg territory. For all applications for a residence permit to be made by 1 July or at the latest 3 weeks after the admission date, please consult the specific procedure
    • Degree issued by a university outside the European Union, the European Economic Area or Switzerland and with a residence permit for Luxembourg

      A copy of your diploma (or pass certificate) is required when submitting your application.

      The applicant must have a basic medical education credential obtained in a third country that is recognised under the provisions of the Law of 28 October 2016 on the recognition of professional qualifications, more specifically meeting the criteria set out in Article 24 of this law.
      Applicants who have not completed their 2nd cycle of medical studies at the time of application may be deemed eligible by the Education Committee, provided they provide the missing documentation by 30 November of the year of enrolment. They will not be allowed to begin internships until this formal criterion has been fulfilled.

      If your application is selected, you will receive a conditional admission letter.
      Once you have received proof that your degree has been recorded in register of formal higher education qualifications, you can upload this document via your admission portal to complete your application file. A definitive admission letter will be sent to you along with the invoice for the enrolment fee to finalise enrolment.

      As you have a residence permit for Luxembourg, the application periods are similar to those for European candidates.

    • Degree issued by a university outside the European Union, the European Economic Area or Switzerland, but without a residence permit for Luxembourg.

      A copy of your diploma (or pass certificate) is required when submitting your application.

      If your application is selected, you will receive a conditional admission letter.

      You will have to apply for a residence permit (deadline 1 July of the year of enrolment or 3 weeks after the date of admission at the latest)

      Once you have received your residence permit, you can apply – in your country of origin – to the competent Ministry to have your degree recorded in the register of formal higher education qualifications.

      On arrival, we invite you to come to the University with your residence permit and the document certifying registration of your degree to finalise your enrolment through payment of the enrolment fee and of health insurance if necessary.

      For all other information, please consult the “Information by topic” section.

    Proof is now required of proficiency in the programme’s languages of instruction (French and German), attesting to a B2 level (in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages – CEFR).

    Proof of language proficiency must be demonstrated in one of the following ways:

    1. Secondary and/or university certificate/diploma where the language of instruction corresponds to one of the languages of the chosen UL degree programme. In this case, no language certificate is required.
    2. Certificate of an internationally recognised B2 test not older than three years, such as TOEFL, TOEIC or IELTS for English, DELF or DALF for French and GOETHE Zertifikat or TestDaF for German, in the language(s) of instruction of the degree programme.
    3. Any other document proving B2 proficiency in the languages of instruction.

    Please identify the deadline of your desired Specialised Studies Diploma programme on its webpages.